Leeann Akers

Local leaders and stakeholders gathered in Morehead Wednesday for the official opening of the AppHarvest 60 acre greenhouse facility. 

The greenhouse will grow non-GMO, chemical pesticide-free fruits and vegetables.

Founder and C-E-O Jonathan Webb says some experts believe that humans need 2 planet earths to feed the growing population by 2050.

Built with a $100 million-plus investment, AppHarvest’s first mega-greenhouse aims to grow 45 million pounds of tomatoes annually. Its target customers include grocery stores throughout the Eastern U.S.

Rowan County moved into a red category on the COVID-19 map released by state health officials last week.

The new designation means Rowan had 43 or more cases within a seven day period, and means schools cannot offer in person instruction or host sporting events. 

Rowan County Judge Executive Harry Clark says he is doing everything he can to make sure community leaders have the most accurate information possible.

The Rowan County School district received a waiver allowing them to serve school lunch and breakfast to more children in the community.

When School began August 26th, the district was only allowed to give meals to students enrolled in Rowan County- and they gave out far fewer meals than the spring program. 

Food Service Director Glen Teager says the National School Lunch Program was more restrictive than the Summer Feeding Program. 

The Rowan County Clerk’s office was temporarily closed Wednesday after vandals broke a window overnight.

Rowan County Clerk Elwood Caudill, Jr. found broken glass covering the office early Wednesday morning.

Caudill says it appears no one entered the building through the broken window, but even if they did, ballots and personal information would still be safe.

The Morehead Police Department is investigating the incident.  The perpetrator could be charge with a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the cost to replace the window.

A local volunteer was honored Tuesday in the new Morehead Women’s Park in the city’s downtown.

The area near the Moonlight School was dedicated celebrating 100 years since women were granted the right to vote in the United States.

Mayor Laura White Brown says the first person to be honored was an obvious choice, Tracy Williams. 

The Morehead Women’s Club will plant yellow rose bushes in the park to honor women who have been influential in the region.  

Law enforcement agencies in Carter County are preparing for another round of protests on Sunday. 

For the past two weeks, Black Lives Matter Advocates and counter-protestors have gathered in Grayson’s downtown.   Assault charges are pending against one individual who attacked someone at the protest last weekend.

Grayson Police Chief Travis Steele says one protest organizer has been accused of threatening the city. 

The courthouse, road department and animal shelter in Rowan County closed Monday due to coronavirus concerns. 

Rowan County Judge Executive Harry Clark says three county employees have tested positive already, but all will be tested this week to provide a baseline of information so they can make informed decisions.

Clark says the courthouse facilities will be cleaned starting Tuesday. 

Clark says calls to the courthouse offices will be forwarded to employee homes, so that county business can still be conducted while the offices are closed.  

Professors at Universities and colleges have a lot of unanswered questions as institutions across the commonwealth prepare to reopen campus to students next month.

Morehead State University will begin moving students into dorms on August 8th, with classes scheduled to begin August 17th.

Dr. Annie Adams is a faculty member at Morehead State University.  She says faculty members are concerned about keeping track of students in the classroom, and things like temperature checks. 

As many businesses struggle to adjust to CDC guidelines and operating during a global pandemic, one new business in Rowan County is preparing to launch. 

AppHarvest plans to open a 60-acre greenhouse later this year, setting the region up to become an agrotech hub for the eastern half of the United States.

Founder and CEO Jonathan Webb says construction on the greenhouse has not been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, since food safety was already part of the design.  

With racial tensions high across the US, a local university is continuing its efforts to promote equality. 

Morehead State University’s Eagle Diversity and Inclusion Team began working in the fall of 2018 to address bias response, campus climate, employee recruitment and retention, and other special topics as the need arises.

MSU Diversity Officer, Dr. Caroline Atkins says this fall the university will be offering cultural competence and implicit bias training. 

Final Election Results in Rowan County for last week’s primary were released Tuesday morning.

5, 140 residents cast a ballot by absentee or in Person for the election, bringing the voter turnout to 33.3%.  

President Donald Trump, US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, US Representative Hal Rodgers, and State Representative Richard White overwhelmingly won their primary races in Rowan.  On the democratic ticket, Joe Biden won the presidential nomination and Amy Mcgrath beat Charles Booker by 524 in race for US Senate. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell visited Saint Claire Healthcare on Friday, thanking healthcare workers who have worked the front line of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The republican announced a new distribution of more than $7.8 million for the facility. According to a press release from a McConnell spokesperson, it is specifically because of its work to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay.

McConnell said it is important to reopen the economy and get back to normal, but that it is really important for everyone to wear a mask.